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I have heard many people raving about “The Walking Dead” television show… “TWD” for short. Many people who profess Christ are die-hard fans. Instantly, I became concerned for fellow-Christians who may watch this show; not in a judgmental way, but in a way that one would show concern for a friend who is in trouble. That is the reason for this blog, so hear me out…

Where I’m Coming From

As the author of this blog, I want my readers to know where I am coming from. I felt a strong sense that I needed to speak up on this topic in case there are those who are unaware of how a simple TV show can affect the mind and spirit. There is no need to re-invent the wheel, and since I already blogged on the way certain books, movies, and TV shows can impact us, I feel it unnecessary to go over that again. However, I will direct you to my previous blog HERE for more information.

As I have stated before, I am not perfect – God is. I am not the authoritarian – God is. This blog is yielded to God and I believe that He can work through this blog to bring things to the public’s attention. Quite honestly, it is hard to write blogs such as these; not because of the backlash I receive or even the name-calling. What is so hard for me, personally, is having to research things which I really have no interest in touching with a 10-foot pole; and for good reason.

As Christians, we must all strive daily to keep a pure mind and heart, free from the world’s pollution. James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”Simply researching the topic is unsettling – and I honestly do not understand my fellow-Christians actively turning the television on to watch such gory shows. As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.” It breaks my heart and causes me deep concern and bewilderment that such nonsensical filth is infiltrating the minds of Christians. Nonetheless, I research in order to help others and that is my whole intent and motivation for doing so.

Before I “got in too deep” I wanted to get my facts straight. Admittedly, I have not watched the shows; therefore, I do not claim to be an authority on TWD. However, I feel that I have researched enough to point out a few things as some “food for thought”. Again, I am not confused as to why sinners would watch such shows – since darkness attracts darkness; but, what confuses me is how Christians can take such shows in. I have heard it said that movies and TV shows are like sermons with pictures. I would agree.

What is TWD All About?

The Walking Dead is a television show about, well, walking dead zombies which they call “walkers”. According to TWD website, the storyline is this: “Waking up in an empty hospital after weeks in a coma, County Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) finds himself utterly alone. The world as he knows it is gone, ravaged by a zombie epidemic. The Walking Dead tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after the apocalypse.”

There is a lot of violence, gore, blood, shooting, and killing in the show. In fact, there is even TWD merchandise that, in essence, promotes killing. In an advertisement for TWD, the ad with the skull image said, “death knows no borders” and “fear the walking dead”. Of course, the Bible teaches contrary to fear and repeatedly says, “Fear not”. And we also know that “death knows no borders” is an entirely false statement in light of what the Bible states. Although these phrases are in regards to a fictitious plot, the mindset it strives to instill is very real.

But somehow, all of this is looked upon as good because it is the “bad guys” who are killed in the show. Totally fictitious, yes, but not a message we (Christians) should embrace or wear T-shirts promoting. I mean, am I way off in left field here? It seems common knowledge that a person who claims Christ should already know this. A valid question for Christians is posed in 2nd Corinthians 6:14: “…for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Just the imagery, alone, looks like it is straight out of the pits of Hell!

It’s Gotten Out of Hand!

The Walking Dead comics and television show have garnered so much attention that August 6, 2016 was officially declared “The Walking Dead Day” in Cynthiana, Kentucky. A free, public event to celebrate this day was hosted by the Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. Not completely shocking, yet, hard to come to grips with the fact that some who profess Christ helped fuel this fire. How? By patronizing such events, by purchasing TWD merchandise, by never missing an episode of the show, thus, increasing television ratings.

How else has TWD gotten out of hand? Well, it is even impacting the Director/Make-up Artist of the show. Greg Nicotero has many roles behind-the-scenes of TWD television show. In a recent interview with Deadline.com, Nicotero stated: ” I think it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better for our group, and it’s pretty intense. I mean, the show, we’re sort of opening a new chapter.” He continued, “Everybody’s putting so much of their heart and soul into it. You know, after directing the premiere episode, I was ****** up for two weeks, you know? I really felt like I dragged a lot of my dearest friends into these really deep, dark places shooting that episode, and it’s been definitely an experience unlike anything that I’ve ever handled before.”

How then, can a Christian look on, craving more intense gore? Such gore and intensity that even the show’s crew member had trouble with it mentally! Why watch? As Missionary Keith Daniel once asked, “Is being entertained worth being defiled?” Don’t let your choices of entertainment get out of hand, fellow-Believers! We are accountable to God. The more evil we allow, the more we will crave to entertain us. Not to mention how such imagery desensitizes us. “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (see 1st Thess. 5:22).

A Double Standard

(Click to enlarge)

As the above-mentioned scriptures briefly alluded to, having a double standard (a double mind) is dangerous and woeful for the Believer. We must choose if we stand for light or darkness. Yes, we must choose a “team”, so to speak. There is no neutral ground.

In James 3:11, another poignant question is posed, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” God deals with absolutes – we are either in or out, hot or cold. In the book of Revelation, He says:“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). But He instructs in love. Later in this chapter, He says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” His love allows us a second chance to live a clean life pleasing to him while we still have time.

You see, double-mindedness breeds instability. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). The Christian’s body is where the Holy Spirit lives – our bodies are His temple. But let’s remember that He is holy and does not mix with unholiness. We must choose, would we rather have the holy or the unholy? There can’t be both. Please see my previous post which speaks of this at length HERE.

The late pastor of Times Square Church in New York, David Wilkerson, often taught his congregation about the pitfalls that came with questionable entertainment and certain television shows. In a heartfelt sermon, he once warned his congregation by asking a valid question. He asked, “If you are sitting there when Jesus comes and you are watching that filth, how do you expect to come out of that cesspool suddenly and into the arms of Jesus?”

Take this to heart. Search your soul. Strive to please God above all other human desires. Eternity is at stake. The high road isn’t always the easy road – but it is always worth it! I would like to conclude with one final, resounding scripture from 2nd Corinthians 6. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

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Preface: This article is written to parents, grandparents, and gamers who play the Pokémon game(s) or know someone who does. My intent is to present the facts and potential spiritual implications that a harmless-looking game may have upon you or someone you love. I write because I feel a responsibility to be a light in this dark generation. Although this is lengthy, please read in its entirety with an open mind and receptive heart.

Before we delve into this topic too deep, I feel it is crucial that we understand a little of the history about the creation of Pokémon and what it is about. Pokémon, created by Satoshi Tajiri, gained much popularity in the mid-late 1990’s after the first Pokémon games were released by Nintendo. From the games, other merchandise was manufactured such as Pokémon trading cards, cartoons, movies, apparel, plush toys, and the like.

I Get a Bad Feeling About This

When Pokémon first came out in the late 1990’s, there was an anime cartoon episode which caused nearly 700 viewers to suffer seizures, many of which had not suffered seizures before. The claims were that it was due to photo-sensitivity, but it brought to my mind another viable possibility. Do you remember the biblical account in Luke 9 where a boy had seizures due to a demon? If not, take the time to read Luke 9:37-43.

Even before the above-mentioned incident took place, there were Christian parents, grandparents, pastors, and teachers who did not have good feelings about Pokémon, but couldn’t exactly pinpoint why they felt uneasy. Even to this day, there are those of us who get an uneasy feeling about the new Pokémon craze. For me, it doesn’t agree with my spirit for some reason; and after research, I see why. I feel that this is the Holy Spirit protecting His children from something we may not see. And if you’re reading this, perhaps it is the Holy Spirit of God protecting you from partaking in something that will harm you, although to the human mind, it appears harmless as can be.

Games, movies, and books can, indeed, carry bad spirits. Think of the Ouija board game, for instance. It involves necromancy, psychic phenomena, communicating with evil spirits, etc. And certain movies have been specifically linked to causing people to commit suicide (see my blog HERE for more details). Evil begets evil, oftentimes. We should never leave the door open for potential evil to enter.

In the early years of Pokémon, trading cards were the big trend. However, this was dangerous because it introduced card traders to even more sinister cards such as Dungeons and Dragons as well as Magic: The Gathering cards where children would learn all about how to summons evil powers and such. The same company that produced Magic: The Gathering also produced the Pokémon trading cards.

If you are a Christian and have an uneasy feeling about allowing yourself or your children/grandchildren to play Pokémon games, don’t ignore that feeling or that “inner voice”, so to speak. Again, it may be the Lord protecting you from something you can’t see. God often speaks to His children in a whisper. Hone in and don’t ignore the Lord’s still small voice within your spirit. Remember how the prophet Elijah heard him? It wasn’t in the strong wind, earthquakes, or fires – it was in a small whisper. “…and, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” 1st Kings 19:11-12.

Addictive Pokémon – Go Away!

Now, twenty years after the first Pokémon game was released, it is back in the spotlight and more popular than ever. Just this month (July 2016) a new game app, Pokémon Go, was released for iPhone and Android cell phone gamers. It uses Google Maps to place the characters on your screen in familiar surroundings such as your own front yard! As you walk or drive around, you may find Pokémon creatures hiding in different parts of the city. The object of the game is to find hidden Pokémon creatures and capture them. Seems harmless enough, right? Well, let’s not take everything at face value. I will build upon this point later. Great technology, I must admit, but as fascinating as this technology is, we must see the bigger picture and not be smitten.

Pokémon Go is known as an augmented reality game and has the potential to become addictive in an unhealthy way. While an unhealthy addiction is bad, it isn’t enough to necessarily “demonize” the game, because some could argue that they wouldn’t become addicted, thus, they’d feel free to play it with no feelings of condemnation. I will say that no one sets out to become an addict of anything; but once an addiction takes over, it gets a stronghold on the person and brings feelings of compulsion. Nonetheless, I find other reasons why playing this game isn’t such a good idea. The addictive game becomes a time-killer but also a time-waster. Ephesians 5:16 instructs us as follows: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Does this mean that relaxing or having a time of leisure activity is evil – no. But, be aware of how many hours are spent in leisure and how many are spent in prayer, or in helping others, or in serving the Lord.

It’s not only children who can become easily addicted. I have read accounts of where people would drive around for hours looking for Pokémon creatures to capture for their PokémonGo cell phone game. Some adults will take time away from their families to hunt Pokémons to capture. Gamers can be so engrossed in the game that they get injured because the were not looking where they were walking; others will even jump fences and put themselves in harm’s way to look for fictitious characters. Something about this seems very skewed and extreme, having strange mental implications upon individuals.

Just recently, a teenage girl in Wyoming was looking for some Pokémon creatures to capture for her game when she came across an actual dead body floating in a body of water. And while that is freakish to hear of, it was somewhat telling of what she and millions of others are doing – they are wasting time trying to find something that isn’t actually alive! It’s just like a chasing of the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:11 states: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit [like chasing the wind], and there was no profit under the sun.”

Life is as a vapor – here today and gone tomorrow. What are we spending our time doing? For one day only, write down how you spend each hour of the day. After 24 hours, review your chart and see where the bulk of your time goes. Granted, there are responsibilities – but focus on the “down time” – what do you do during those hours?

“Come now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14.

This is precisely why we can’t afford to waste our time, our years, our life! Focus on what matters most. God, family and others. At the end of life, will we wish we had captured more Pokémon or will we realize what really matters?

The word Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters or Pocket Demons. Ironic that the cell phone is usually carried in the pocket, giving the gamer a tangible, weighty sense of the characters in their pocket. The idea is to capture as many Pokémons as you can so that you can become a Pokémon Master. Once a Master, you can summons or release them when you need help, power, or revenge.

Writer, Berit Kjos wrote: “What if they carry their favorite monsters like magical charms or fetishes in their pockets, trusting them to bring power in times of need? Many do.” For Christian parents, this should raise some red flags. What is being taught to the young and impressionable as to where to turn in times of need? Who holds the power? Is God their very present help in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1), or is Pokémon? It may sound ridiculous to an adult mind to reason like this – but a child’s mind can be very trusting in such things. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Kjos further wrote: “Psychologists have warned that role-playing can cause the participant to actually experience, emotionally, the role being played. Again, ‘the child becomes the master.’ Or so it seems to the player. Actually, the programmer who writes the rules is the master. And when the game includes occultism and violence, the child-hero is trained to use his or her spiritual power to kill, poison, evolve, and destroy—over and over. Not only does this repetitive practice blur the line between reality and fantasy, it also sears the conscience and causes the player to devalue life. The child learns to accept unthinkable behavior as normal.”

Kjos continues, “The child must exercise his own intelligent mind to learn the complex rules. But after learning the rules, the programmed stimuli produce conditioned responses in the player. These responses become increasingly automatic, a reflex action. Naturally, this can lead to psychological addiction, a craving for ever greater (and more expensive) thrills and darker forces.”

But as I stated earlier, it isn’t just children who can become addicted to this game. Adults will shun responsibilities of the home, marriage, and parenthood to play games instead. Many will spend time away from their families to play or be so entangled in a game that they can’t lay it aside for a family dinner or to visit with loved ones. Little boys in men’s bodies and little girls in women’s bodies; when will we take seriously the responsibility to be an example to others, whether we are parents or not. We need to have the spiritual maturity to know when to lay some things aside. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1).

Questionable Entertainment

“Is being entertained worth being defiled?” ~Missionary Keith Daniel

We are to be a light to this world and spending our time wisely doing good and not partaking in questionable activities. And yes, I consider the Pokémon games questionable. Why? For many reasons – I will explain below.

In a rare interview with Time magazine, Satoshi Tajiri (Pokémon creator) stated the following:

Time: None of the monsters is really evil. So how do you know if one of them is with you or against you?

Tajiri: Think of it like this; if a horse runs over you and you die, then the horse is bad. But if you’re riding the horse, the horse is your ally. so, if you have a monster in your collection, then it’s considered good; but if not, it’s still not considered bad because it could be your friend one day.

Okay, for starters, there are some of the monsters in the game which are evil since they possess paranormal, psychic or hypnotic powers. Any type of powers like these are demonic in nature, just so you know. I wrote an entire blog about such powers being satanic. For scriptural references, see my post HERE. Although it is a fictitious game, the premise of the characters’ power is based upon non-fictitious evil. In turn, it teaches a misleading subliminal message that evil equates to power.

The game is heavily influenced by wrong beliefs of evil mysticism and New Age religions in the various elements it exalts (ex. Pokémon Sun/Moon games coming out later this year exalting certain earth elements as in certain New Age or Pagan beliefs. Also see Galatians 4:3 and 4:8-9). In a statement released in 2001 by Pastor Brett Peterson, he stated: “Buddhist Mysticism, Hinduism, meditation rituals, Egyptian Book of the Dead, Book of Tao, the Analects of Confucius, the Gita, the I Ching, The Tibetan Book of the Dead… All these philosophies influenced Pokémon!”

Then, we look at what Tajiri stated in his interview – basically saying that if you are the one riding a horse that kills someone then the horse is good. In other words, killing is good if you’re not the one killed. Then he goes on to assert that even your foe could become your friend; which is very misleading. Satan is the only enemy of the Believer and he will never become a friend. Jesus is that friend that sticks even closer than a brother (see Prov. 18:24). But we must draw the line in the sand and not be accepting of Satan or any of his schemes; he will never be on our side and the Christian will never be on his side. Again – a misleading belief held by Tajiri which is reinforced in the Pokémon games when it is lived out or “played out” by the gamer.

The Pokémon trend will be here for a while; so I want you to be informed about the possible pitfalls. Later this year (in November 2016) Nintendo will be releasing another couple of Pokémon games for their 3DS system – Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Some are calling 2016 “The Year of the Pokémon“.

Even after presenting this information, some will choose to ignore it and justify playing such games anyway. If someone wants to do something bad enough, they will find some way to justify it. Nonetheless, I have said my piece. I hope that you will prayerfully consider your ways and make the best decisions in life. We only get one pass at life, let’s spend our time wisely and for the greater good. Let’s not fill our minds with useless junk all the time. Let’s step back and look at the bigger picture of eternity and not get so wrapped up in all of these trends.

After I was nearing the completion of writing this blog, I saw a Christian friend’s post on Facebook and it really made a lot of sense and gave a lot of food for thought. With her permission, I just had to include what she wrote below:

“If we gave God as much attention as Pokémon, if we chased after Him as much as Pokémon, if we got into our Bible as much as Pokémon, we’d be so blessed, anointed, and would praise Him so much that we’d enter the world to spread His word and His love. Not to catch some animal. I understand it’s mostly for fun and exercise but how many of you with this app that are Christians go to your Pokéstops and talk about Jesus? How many of you find Pokéstops but don’t find at least one person to share the Gospel with or even pray for? I’m not bashing on anyone who plays the game, do what you want. But ya’ll gotta remember what we do with our time on earth will go into what we do with our eternity. I just spent 4 days soaked in the Presence of God. Drenched with the Holy Spirit. Baptized. Received a new voice. Praised Him like never before. Delivered from bondages. Spoken my future over me. Fallen in awe and surrender. I plan to sacrifice my comfort for a God who loves me, has chosen me, redeemed me, given me hope and life. I’m searching for people to reach the Heavens with me, not a character on my phone that doesn’t give me the pure joy that the Lord does. Yes, I am praying over this whole thing. When you become so filled with Him your focus doesn’t want to be on anything else. And yeah, ppl may be going to the church but honestly, is it for God or to catch Pokémon?! I mean, come on…”

Revivalist Leonard Ravenhill once said, “Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord the less entertainment you need.” Again, I am not stating that having times of leisure are necessarily sinful; but the point is, what type of entertainment do we choose and why do some seem to crave constant, stimulating entertainment more than others. Perhaps it could be due to an emptiness within their souls. The idea is to keep the mind distracted and noisy so they won’t have to get quiet and think about their life and how it is being wasted and how if feels so meaningless and devoid of joy.

God bless you for reading… please consider what I have presented (out of a deep concern) and please do not feel that I am “bashing” anyone who may have played such games unknowingly. Now that you have the wisdom, it is your responsibility to make the wisest choice. Let us all strive to please God in these last days. He needs the genuine, the attentive, the ones not easily distracted by this world. Are you one of those few?

Closing Side Note: You may have also heard in the news how Pokémon Go game was used to assist four people in robberies. The suspects created a PokéStop at a CVS parking lot in Missouri, and when they saw people gathering, they robbed them at gunpoint. This game can be used by predators to lure people to certain locations. This is just a side note, but bore mentioning, due to safety concerns.

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“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” ~Psalm 4:8

Sleep – it’s something that the human body needs. After a long and tiring day, it is necessary to allow ourselves to rest and sleep for a few hours. Yet, there are those who do not find sleep to be restorative, peaceful, or satisfying. Health conditions, sleep disorders, nightmares, fear, worry… these are just some of the reasons why some do not enjoy their sleep.

I must say, this topic is near and dear to my heart because I have had minor sleep issues (off and on) my entire life. As a child, I would sleepwalk. I’d fall asleep in my bed only to find myself standing in the kitchen, somehow; not knowing how I got there. Needless to say, this left me feeling very disoriented and out of control. As a child, this was very scary and it caused me to fear bedtime.

Throughout my life, I have had very vivid nightmares, at times – never knowing when one would strike. After such horrific dreams, I would wake up with a sense of intense panic. Once again, this left me feeling disoriented, out of control, and dreadful of bedtime. I’d have to talk myself down and think to myself, “It’s okay – it was just a dream.”

Still, in more recent years, I have found myself dealing with insomnia; to the point that it could easily take me 4 hours (or more) to fall asleep. I share all of this so my readers will know – this blog on sleep doesn’t come from one who has had no troubles. I have full compassion on those who struggle with sleep. It’s something we must do every single night – and if it holds fear and dread, it only leaves us in constant torment.

The Cure?

“… he gives his beloved sleep.” ~Psalm127:2

If a person is living a life of sin and has an unsettled soul and guilt-ridden conscience, naturally, sleep would not typically be very sweet. But, what about the Christian – the one who loves and serves Jesus faithfully? What if the devout Christian has disturbed sleep?

Of course, there are medical and natural remedies to help one sleep. Nonetheless, such aids will not necessarily take away the fears, nightmares, and problems that arise with sleep. As the late pastor A.W. Tozer used to say – I’m going to give you some good, practical, “salty” wisdom that is down-to-earth. For starters, I recommend always praying before bed. This is the perfect time to repent of any sin present and to lay our burdens at Jesus’ feet, asking for His peace. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Secondly, we must always make sure we are at peace with God and man. Romans 12:18 states: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you [so far as it depends on you], live peaceably with all men.” And Ephesians 4:26… “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” The hurt and injustices that blindside us will make it very difficult to sleep peacefully. Nonetheless, we have to put it in the Lord’s hands to deal with and trust that He will guide us and give us peace.

Thirdly, we must guard ourselves and what we allow into our minds. Proverbs 4:23 puts it like this: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We must never watch filthy movies, listen to worldly music, or read dark novels and expect to have deep, genuine peace or sleep. Even a passing commercial with violence will affect us negatively. Such imagery in the human mind is toxic.

Also, we must be very conscious of what we are dwelling on – even at the subconscious level. We must be very aware of what we’re allowing ourselves to think about. We can stew over many things and not even realize it… things such as fear, financial worries, health concerns, situations which anger us; the list goes on and on. Let’s remember Philippians 4:7… “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And this scripture found in Philippians 4:8, “…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Nonetheless, conditions do not have to be perfect for God to grant sleep. Remember the account in the 8th chapter of Matthew? Jesus was asleep in the boat even though there was such a powerful storm that the disciples feared for their lives! That is the definition of sweet, undisturbed, God-given sleep!

The Gift of Sleep

The late, great Spurgeon likened sleep to a gift. I would have to agree. Let us never take for granted peaceful, sweet sleep. As with everything, there is a healthy balance. Too much sleep can border on being slothful (see Prov. 20:13, 6:9-11, Matt. 26:45, etc.), yet, if the body truly needs sleep – Christ is there to peacefully grant us this gift with no guilt added. When sleep is needed, it isn’t self-indulgent nor wrong to sleep deeply; it is a gift.

In the 2nd chapter of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and his spirit was troubled to the point that his sleep left him. This was obviously not a blessed occurrence; which further validates the idea of sleep being a gift.

C.H. Spurgeon

“Sleep is the gift of God, and not a man would close his eyes, did not God put his fingers on his eyelids; did not the Almighty send a soft and balmy influence over his frame which lulled his thoughts into quiescence, making him enter into that blissful state of rest which we call sleep. True, there be some drugs and narcotics whereby men can poison themselves well nigh to death, and then call it sleep; but the sleep of the healthy body is the gift of God.” ~Charles H. Spurgeon

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Convention centers, state and county Fairs , television, the Internet, on the telephone, in a shady little room of a hut – these are some of the places where people go to consult with a psychic. But, why? For what reasons do people seek them out? And, are they sinning by doing so? This may seem like a very obscure topic, however, the interest in psychics is growing. This isn’t something we can brush under the proverbial rug. We, as Christians, need to know what we believe and where we stand so we won’t get caught up in the fanfare of it all.

Many people, it seems, are becoming intrigued and fascinated by psychics and mediums. Curiosity drives them to act upon such motives. Some feel as if it will bring comfort if they can contact a deceased relative or know what the future holds. However, let’s take a closer look at this topic, in light of scripture.

A Familiar Spirit

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31

The Bible states that psychics/mediums possess a ‘familiar spirit’. But, what exactly is a familiar spirit? The original Hebrew definition for ‘familiar spirit’ means: “a necromancer, medium, wizard; one who chirps, mumbles, or mutters in the practice of seeking the dead for instruction.” This act is obviously not of God, and the spirit within them is demonic and evil.

Under the Old Testament Law, a man or woman that had a familiar spirit, or was a wizard, was put to death by stoning (see Leviticus 20:27). This shows how evil and detestable it was (and is) in the sight of God. He warns His people that any type of sorcery is forbidden. If one engages in such practices, they only defile themselves and become unclean in God’s sight. This still holds true, nowadays.

Again, the instruction to God’s people was proclaimed in Deuteronomy 18: 10-12:

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord…”

The Demonic Counterfeit

Since the time when Satan was cast out of Heaven, he has been counterfeiting God’s works. Instead of consulting mediums, God’s people were instructed, rather, to hearken unto a Godly prophet which the Lord would raise up in that time (see Deuteronomy 18:15). So, we find that the medium was Satan’s counterfeit for God’s prophet. Likewise, seeking out psychics for peace of mind is Satan’s counterfeit of seeking God for peace of mind.

We now have the entire Word of God recorded in scripture – why would we need to look any further than God Almighty? He knows and sees all. As God’s children, we have no need (and hopefully, no desire) to seek out any such evil spiritists. Furthermore, we should not even allow such evils into our home – whether by means of television, Internet, or telephone. Don’t play with fire! Don’t allow entrance for evil spirits. So what if we get called names like, “narrow-minded, strict, or old-fashioned”?! At least we have a backbone and can stand up for righteousness by God’s grace. Let us not be fooled, for we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (see 2nd Corinthians 2:11).

We also read in 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12, a prophecy about how the Anti-Christ will deceive people by his false signs and wonders; and it is in accord with the activity of Satan. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Remember what we are taught in 1st John 4:1: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Satan’s counterfeit “joys” are pleasurable to the human nature for a fleeting moment and might even seem innocent and persuasive; but in the end, the victim is left with deep heartache, the hollow absence of peace, and eternal death (barring repentance).

It Didn’t End Well

So, what happens if somebody defiles their conscience and partakes in paranormal activity anyhow? Well, let’s look at the case of King Saul, in scripture. He started off well – he followed God and was king of Israel. However, after being disobedient to God in many ways, he was no longer able to hear God leading him through the prophets. He was desperate to have counsel due to the coming battle with the Philistines.

This was a crucial point in King Saul’s life. He could have recognized God’s absence and recognized that he brought this upon himself. He could have cried out to God, humbly seeking another chance. But no… King Saul takes matters into his own hands. This was the crucial turning point where everything unraveled.

“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor” (1st Samuel 28:7). So, Saul disguises himself and goes, at night, to this medium at Endor. He brings along two other men with him. The entire account can be read in 1st Samuel 28; but suffice it to say that this encounter certainly did not bring Saul joy or peace.

This is what happened next:

“Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.” (1st Samuel 31:1-6)

After King Saul was wounded, he proceeded to take his own life. He fell upon his sword; thus, committing suicide. We find that his disobedience to God, defiance against his conscience, consulting a medium, and eventual death are all a sad picture of how sin destroys a person. Sin, if tolerated, only seems to grow. Therefore, let us never accept anything evil – even if it appears harmless on the surface (i.e. a newspaper horoscope or watching a psychic on television). It didn’t end well for King Saul because he was in sin. Let us take extra caution so we don’t end up with a destroyed life and eternal torment.

The Good News!

Finally, let us briefly look at the account in the book of Acts, where a deliverance came, from such evil spirits:

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”~Acts 16:16-18

What can we learn from this?

1.) The damsel was used to make gain [money] for her masters. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Psychics are in ‘business’ to make money. Don’t be fooled.

2.) The damsel who had a spirit of divination was demon-possessed.

3.) Such evil spirits can be cast out by Jesus’ name and His authority. That’s the good news!

Remember Proverbs 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” So, above all else, let us keep our hearts pure and undifiled.

Helpful Scriptures

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

2nd Chronicles 33:6 “And he [Manasseh] caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.”

Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without [outside] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

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I am on a quest to educate Christians and non-Christians, alike. However, when doing so – it may come across that I am “demonizing” everything. Please, do not be misinformed; I am merely pointing out certain things to get us thinking and to help us to be more pleasing to God. There are plenty of wholesome things we can enjoy which God has so graciously given us. Now, on with our study…

The word “fairy” is derived from the Middle English word “faierie”; a direct borrowing from Old French meaning “the land, realm, or characteristic activity of the legendary people of folklore and romance,” which were called “faie”. This derived ultimately from Late Latin “fata” (hence a guardian or tutelary spirit, hence a spirit in general). A tutelary spirit is a spirit or deity who protects. The Roman religion had dozens of tutelary spirits/goddesses. The original word fata can also be translated as, “thing spoken, decision, decree’ or ‘prophetic declaration, prediction”.

The problem with this is that fairies are often viewed as a form of a goddess (there is no God except the One true God) and that fairies can be seen as protectors. In reality, God is the only one Who protects us by sending the Holy Spirit and His angels to us – certainly we are not protected by some imagined mythological being. Furthermore, when God spoke – the world was created. The idea of a fairy (as mentioned earlier) is that there is a degree of power which they are believed to hold in regards to our destiny. Remember the word fata was also translated as meaning “prophetic declaration”? You see, only God’s people are given the gift of prophecy (see 1st Corinthians 14). It is not given flippantly to false prophets or prophetesses and certainly not to a fictitious being.

In later usage, the word faie was generally applied to any kind of quality or activity associated with a particular sort of person, as in English knavery, roguery, witchery, wizardry. Once again, not a good connotation that goes along with the word fairy. Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and having magical powers. Their origins are less clear in the folklore, being variously dead, or some form of demon, or a species completely independent of humans or angels.

There are many beliefs as to exactly what fairies are believed to be. Some believe they are actually real and are demoted angels or even demons. Others believe fairies are a subclass of the dead. Also, there are those who believe they are Pagan deities or goddesses. Furthermore, It is believed that to know the name of a particular fairy could summon it to you and force it to do your bidding. The name could be used as an insult towards the fairy in question, but it could also be used to grant powers and gifts to the user.

Nonetheless, any of the above-mentioned descriptions are not something with which I personally wish to associate with or admire. Anything (fictional or not) that tries to defy God or go against Him is evil. 1st Peter 1:14 & 15 says, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

Nowadays, fairies are portrayed as beautiful creatures. We see them in children’s books such as Peter Pan where the character Tinker Bell has become a pop culture icon. We also see fairies in artwork, fashion accessories, and on jewelry. The Tinker Bell type of fairies are portrayed as sweet and beautiful. It is not so much how the cartoon character behaves that is problematic as it is where fairies were derived from, you see. It is the same premise as with Halloween – it’s not so much the passing out of candy that is the issue; it is how the holiday began. (See my blog about Halloween here: https://revealingtruthtoday.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/celebrating-halloween-harmless-or-heretical/)

Some people are under the misconception that fairies and angels are one in the same. This is entirely untrue. Fairies are fictional and often associated with magic while angels are real and associated with God and His real power. Once again, we must be strict on what we allow, promote, and endorse as harmless. We are called to be disciples of God – and true disciples have discipline. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate…” 2nd Corinthians 6:17. I hope this blog has given you some food for thought.

Sources:

wikipedia.com

biblos.com

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“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”~Romans 12:2

This blog entry, although thorough, is not the most exhaustive study on this particular topic. However, my goal in posting this is not to cause us to hate anybody. We are to pray for those who are blinded to the truth. As we’ve heard it said, we hate the sin but love the sinner. Likewise, we must also hate our own sin and turn away from it. Furthermore, it is my mission to show how inundated our society is with evil so that we may avoid falling prey to it. So, with that being said, let’s begin.

In today’s culture, there are many hidden symbols which we may or may not notice. There is evil symbolism in certain types of fashion, print, hand gestures, video games, movies, books, tattoos, music videos, etc. The evil culture of people in society cowardly use symbols to show whom they belong to. Ultimately, anybody influenced to live a wicked life is influenced by Satan.

There is also a secret society of Satanic people called, “The Illuminati”. There are several Illuminati and Satanic symbols which many celebrities use to show their allegiance to evil. Such celebrities do not worship the true and living God of Heaven; rather, they worship Satan and/or they worship themselves and their riches and fame. The secret society of the Illuminati (founded by Adam Weishaupt in Bavaria in 1776) has been manifested in popular culture. Their desire is to create a New World Order and to dominate the world with evil.

The Eye of Horus/The All-Seeing Eye

One-eye symbolism

You will notice how many celebrities highlight or hide one eye. Some even hide one eye with their hair, hand, a prop, or makeup. This

is meant to represent The Eye of Horus. Basically, The Eye of Horus is an Egyptian symbol used to represent evil. If one eye is exalted (focused on or brought attention to), it means that the person or object is being viewed as a powerful god. Many even feel that they are worthy of worship. As is the case with Lady Gaga – she calls herself, “The Fame Monster”. Many celebrities want to be worshiped and idolized.

Hand Gestures

Gangs on the street have certain hand gestures they use to show dedication to a certain gang. Likewise, many celebrities use hand gestures to show allegiance to Satan whom they credit for their riches. Many have even openly admitted that they’ve sold their souls to the devil.

The “A-Okay” symbol is where the tips of the thumb and index finger touch and the other three fingers are pointed upward. This symbol has been twisted to most commonly represent three 6’s… as in 666. This is the number of the Anti-Christ. It is a number that represents anything that is rebellious against God. Just a side note: Selena Gomez was pictured wearing a shirt with “666” symbolism on it. However, she is not the only one. We must pray for these people to see the error of their way. But in the meantime, we must beware of who we look up to as a role model.

Hand gestures

Another hand gesture commonly used is “The Corona.” This symbol is made by curling down the middle finger and ring finger to the palm, while pointing upward with the index finger and little finger. This symbol used to mean, “I love you” or even “I love Rock & Roll” – however, it is most commonly used to represent Satan nowadays. The two fingers pointing upwards represent Satan’s horns. Controversial political figure, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been photographed looking upward gesturing this symbol, perhaps as if tempting God. He is a political figure known for his hatred against America and Israel. By him gesturing this symbol. I sincerely doubt he was saying, “I love you” or even “I love Rock & Roll”. We must be aware of our surroundings and not be fooled by such people who represent evil.

The hand symbol which forms a diamond shape, also known as the “diamond cutter,” is another symbol used by many celebrities. Jay-Z claims that it stands for his record label symbol “Roc-A-Fella Records” which he founded. The label’s title refers to a Brooklyn drug dealer named Rocafella who died from AIDS. Jay-Z wants to create a dynasty and has chosen this symbol. However, this symbol is also tied to the Illuminati and looks like the outline for the Masonic symbol. Furthermore, Jay-Z openly promotes evil.

For instance, Jay-Z has a song in which he says, “Murder, murder Jesus”. In his concerts thousands of people hold up his symbol (a diamond-shaped hand symbol) coupled with a repetitious chant. Many in the crowd act as if they are in deep worship. It is as if Jay-Z is their “worship” leader. If this weren’t enough proof, he also has a song entitled, “Lucifer”. He uses satanic symbolism in his music videos such as gothic costuming, voodoo, skulls, black crows, goat heads, a crucifix of Christ with two bullets on either side… it is truly sad. He admitted that he has never read the Bible in his life. Do people really know what they are doing when they use such gestures?

Also, in the picture shown, (NBA player) Kobe Bryant is holding up this same symbol. He is known for his sinful lifestyle. Again, there is hope in Jesus for him. But, this symbol he is gesturing could also be tied to a basketball trick called the “diamond cutter.” However, it is hard to tell sometimes since some of these hand gestures are interchangeable. Just like I mentioned above, the “A-Okay” symbol, for example, can mean more than one thing. It is always better to err on the side of caution so that we are not fooled.

Monarch Programming and Kitten Programming

Monarch Programming and Kitten Programming are both forms of mind control used by the occultic, satanic, evil world. Not in all – but in MOST instances, when celebrities use butterflies as stage props, fashion, etc. it is their secret way of saying, “My mind is controlled by evil.” Likewise, Kitten Programming is a form of mind control. Most commonly, when celebrities use kittens or cats as stage props or wear animal print, it is their secret message. It means that they are in touch with their immoral side which would cause them to be promiscuous and get involved in sexual sins which the Bible forbids. It is synonymous with being a “sex kitten”.

Monarch Programming

Furthermore, we must understand that this hidden symbolism is not known by the general public; therefore, we must not cast judgment or be suspicious of someone just because they wear animal print or something with butterflies. Much like the rainbow; it is a symbol of God’s promise to never flood the entire earth again. However, the evil society has twisted it into being a symbol to represent homosexuals. There is nothing wrong with wearing a rainbow-print in and of itself; however, society will now see it that the person wearing it supports homosexuality. It is a shame that such things are distorted, but we live in an evil world. Please note that most people in the general public wearing animal print, butterflies, etc. are not aware that society is slowly twisting it – they probably just like the look of the print (and that is no sin).

However, the bulk of celebrities know exactly what they are wearing and why they are wearing it. It is no coincidence that they wear such things. In fact, if you’ll notice in the picture, Katy Perry is wearing butterflies. In an interview, she once said, “I swear, I wanted to be like the Amy Grant of music but it didn’t work out and so I sold my soul to the devil.” She rose to fame with the release of her second single “I Kissed a Girl” in 2008, which went on to top international charts. Katy Perry’s song says, “I kissed a girl and I liked it.” Such lyrics support homosexuality which is an abomination unto God.

In one of Katy Perry’s music videos, she is seen dancing on a pentagram. Pentagrams are used today as a symbol of faith by many Wiccans. It has magical, mystical associations with evil. In years past, Christians used to use the pentagram to represent the five wounds of Jesus. However, nowadays the pentagram has associations with Freemasonry and is also utilized by a number of other evil belief systems and in occultism. She has also been photographed numerous times promoting the one-eye symbolism (Eye of Horus). Once again, allow me to say that we must be aware of these things so that we do not fill our minds with evil or admire such people.

Mickey Mouse Programming

Mickey Mouse Programming

It is unclear why certain symbols are used and others aren’t, however, the Mickey Mouse symbol is another symbol that is slowly being distorted to represent mind control. I cannot vouch for the validity of any claims against Walt Disney – but some believe that he was an evil man. Others believe that he was racist against Jewish people. I cannot attest to this – but I do know the company which is now under new leadership has allowed more and more immorality as the years go by. In fact, the Southern Baptist denomination called for a boycott against all Disney-owned companies a few years ago. The boycott was due to Disney’s recognition of homosexuals by launching “Gay Days”. This promotion of sin causes abandonment of family values and promotes immorality.

Nowadays, there are many hidden symbols in a lot of the Disney movies. Also, Disney now supports homosexuals. Perhaps the celebrities wearing Mickey Mouse ears are showing their support for homosexuals, also. However, we should not promote or support any action that will cause someone to go to hell. The Bible very plainly states that homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God unless they turn away from their sin and repent (see 1st Corinthians 6:9).

Other symbols

There is a fine line between reading too much into something and erring on the side of caution. However, it is undeniable that there are many other symbols, shapes, patterns, animals, and objects which Satan’s followers (The Illuminati) have warped to symbolize evil. Such things are: Triangles, pyramids, pentagrams, mirrors, checkered floors, inverted crosses, targets, crows, rabbit ears, goats, owls, snakes, masks, alter egos, split personalities, aliens, and robots. That is only naming a few! I want to reiterate that not all people wearing an owl necklace or a triangle pattern, for example, is an evil person. But we must also be aware that there are many who use such symbols to represent the dark side.

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The Hobbit, a series of books made into movies, is the topic of this blog entry. Originally published as a children’s book in 1937, The Hobbit was written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It seems that there is a trend of book trilogies and/or series being made into movies, lately. Another common denominator is that all of the trilogies/series seem to be marketed to children and teens. All have the same type of dark theme including some type of witchcraft or magic. And all of these books/movies seem to be addictive to those who read or watch. The Hobbit is no exception to this dark trend. The first movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, was released in 2012. In worldwide ticket sales, the movie brought in $940,351,480.00. The numbers speak to the fact that many people flocked to this film and that it has gained worldwide popularity. But like the old saying goes, “Just because something is popular does not mean it is good.” Not to mention, there are still two more movies in the trilogy. The second movie, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is set to release in 2013. If no more sequels are made, the final movie in the trilogy is set to release in 2014. This final movie is The Hobbit: There and Back Again. But, before we delve in too far, let us lay some groundwork.

Hidden Symbolism

A former occult member, Wes Penre, said, “I can speak from my own experience; after I had read his [J.R.R. Tolkien’s] books, I wanted to know more about magic and sorcery; and directly or indirectly, his work eventually led me to one of the occult secret societies, where I became a member. However, I finally realized how I was used there for evil purposes, and left. I am certain of one thing with regards to this: Tolkien was a highly educated man, and his symbolism is not coincidental. He knew about the occult symbols, and he did use them for some hidden purpose.”

The famous author of The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien was also the writer of The Lord of the Rings – another dark, influential, and popular book-turned-movie. On the older, original copies of the book, The Lord of the Rings, there is a very strange symbol on the cover. It depicts an encircled eye with writing around the circle which seems to be written in another language. According to Tolkien’s biography, he created Gothic words to compensate for vocabulary gaps. The writing around the ring is known as “The Black Speech” which is a fictitious type of speech devised by Tolkien for elves. In an interview, Tolkien describes the elves/dwarves this way: “They’re not a part of the children of God.” Thus, it seems the elf language would also be evil. The language is loosely interpreted to mean that the “darkness binds them all”.

The encircled eye on the book cover is very reminiscent of TheAll-Seeing Eye or the Eye of Horus which is a symbol used by a secret society of Satanists called The Illuminati. Perhaps, the symbol was originally meant to be the all-seeing eye of God. However, it is now mocked and used for evil, much like the rainbow. If a person wore rainbow colors or even a depiction of a rainbow on their apparel, it used to be just that – a rainbow, which is symbolic of God’s promise to never flood the entire earth again. However, society has skewed this sacred symbol to be an evil representation for gays and lesbians. We find symbols marketed to give subtle messages and the one-eye symbol is no exception.

If one eye is exalted, it means that the person (or object) is viewed as being powerful and as a god – even worthy of worship! A quick lesson – any time you see one eye and a triangle, BEWARE! The pyramid and The All-Seeing Eye is represented on U.S. currency which many believe to be a subtle symbol placed on our paper money. But, all conspiracy theories aside, it cannot be debated that we see one-eye symbolism everywhere. Notice how celebrities will highlight one eye with make-up or even fashion their fingers in a circle around one eye. (For examples and photos, type in the search bar on my blog for: “How Mainstream is Satanism?”)

This book cover not only has the one-eye symbolism, but it has triangle symbolism. The three rings around the larger ring, if connected, would make a triangle. This cover is very mysterious and is loaded with evil symbols. The triangle is merely a shape. However, it can also be used to symbolize evil. It is said that the upright triangle represents divinity, spirit, or even the Trinity. That seems to be good, right? Nonetheless, we must remember that these symbols have been skewed by an evil society to hold hidden messages. The New Age society has refashioned the triangle to represent elements, spirits, evil, etc. In the 1970’s there were Hippies… in the 21st century, there are now Hipsters. This group is infatuated with triangles because it represents their New Age beliefs. With the lesson on triangles understood – we can see that this triangular symbolism is utilized on this book cover.

Then, we look at the original book cover for The Hobbit. It appears very innocent, but we must look for the subtle symbols. The triangular mountains with a sun in between them is highly symbolic of Egyptian mythology and false god worship. The false God, Aker, represented the horizon and was one of the earliest false gods to be worshiped. In hieroglyphics, his symbol was a sun disc between two lions or two mountains.

I am not a conspiracy theorist or one that would try to materialize something that isn’t there. But, with all of the symbolism, innuendos, and parallels – it is hard to deny that there seems to be some underlying theme of evil. Tolkien created a world of his own called the “Middle Earth” where reincarnation is subtly introduced, evil characters are innocent, and unbiblical rules stand as the truth. Many argue, “Lighten up… it’s just a fictitious fantasy story!” Granted, it is fictitious but why would we fantasize or mentally-escape to a place of evil? We think, “It’s just fiction”, so we let our guard down – that is how many an evil is introduced and easily accepted as good.

J.R.R. Tolkien & C.S. Lewis

Two of the most popular fantasy writers of all time are J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. These two authors formed a friendship and were both part of The Inklings – a group of writers who met regularly to discuss philosophy, literature, and the like. However, it went deeper than that. It is believed that a fellow Inkling, Charles William, introduced The Inklings to, what he called, “white witchcraft.” This was a supposed “innocent” form of witchcraft. “Innocent witchcraft” is the same as an “honest liar” – the two do not mix. “Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:11-13).

Both writers include magical and savior-like characters in their writings. Thus, many Christians let down their guard, thinking that Lewis and Tolkien are Christian authors who parallel their works to Christianity. Personally, I did the same thing when C.S. Lewis’ first movie was released. I went to see it, thinking that it was a Christian movie. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a movie that I do not wish to watch ever again. If a person is not “on guard” there are many subtle things which can be easily introduced to the subconscious. The half goat, half man character in the movie is fashioned after the false god, Pan. Also, some of the verbiage used in the film makes no sense if Aslan (the lion) is really supposed to be a character to represent Jesus. Furthermore, I left the theater feeling dirty – almost as if the movie made me feel toxic or sinful. The movie seemed to last forever and I couldn’t wait until it was finally over! I thought it would be a good ending and proclaim Jesus – but no, it was just… bleh.

Blogger, Vicky Beeching, also writes about C.S. Lewis’ work in her blog. She states: “…in Lewis’ work The Last Battle, he suggests that all religions may in fact lead to God. At the end of the book, Lewis describes a Calormene soldier named Emeth and his face to face encounter with Aslan the lion. Emeth comes from a culture where the god Tash is worshipped and this is the religion he has followed all of his life. As a result, he is terrified when he realizes Aslan is right in front of him. The text documents Emeth’s experience: ‘I fell at his feet and thought surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him’. However, Emeth experienced quite the opposite from what he had expected; Aslan said ‘Son thou art welcome. But I said, alas Lord I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash’. He answered, ‘Child all the service thou hast done to Tash I account as service done to me.’This already seems a far cry from what most Christians would consider to be orthodox.”

Furthermore, John Todd (an Illuminati Defector) stated the following: “Tolkien was a member, along with another gentleman I’m going to mention in a minute… both were supposed, confessed, born-again Christians. But, both were members of The Golden Dawn… that’s the Rothchild’s private church in London; it’s the oldest coven in the world. You may think that The Hobbit, and the books of the trilogy like Lord of the Rings (inaudible), and Silmarillion, and so on, are fairy tales; but they’re the gospel to witches. According to witches, those things really did take place. If you’ve got them in your home – you wouldn’t own a Satanist’s Bible; at least I hope you wouldn’t, I pray for you if you would – and you wouldn’t own a Witchcraft Bible… why would you own part of the Witchcraft Bible? You could go to the occult stores and you could pick up many books that came out after The Hobbit came out, that bare the alphabet of witchcraft. Now, there’s a ‘Christian’ author… who claims that Tolkien won him to the Lord; [but] he forgot to say what lord. And, his books are required reading before you can join a coven; required studying. His name was C.S. Lewis. I want to quote from one of Lewis’ books: ‘The pathway to God is like a hall with many doors; they all lead to God’ [end quote]. Not on your life! Jesus says that anybody that comes, other than through Him, is a thief and a robber.”

Personally, what confuses me is to read sensible quotes by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien, yet, to find that their books and writings are so dark. Then, two scriptures came to mind to dispel my confusion. I am not judging either gentleman, but I could not help but to think of a couple of scriptures in regards to this double-standard they seemed to have had. They both seemed to bear bad spiritual fruit. The first scripture is found in 2nd Timothy 3:5. It states: “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” And the second scripture is found in Matthew 7:20-21 which states: “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”

The Hobbit Producer: Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson, also known as Sir Peter Jackson, is the Producer for The Hobbit. Jackson, a supposed self-proclaimed Atheist, also produced The Lord of the Rings. Even though the books of J.R.R. Tolkien have evil undertones already, many argue that this Atheist/Producer is making the movies even darker than the books. Ironically, both of his parents died during the production of The Lord of the Rings. According to the Internet Movie Database, his trademarks are that he likes darkly humorous scenes with violence, has an interest in matricide (the killing of one’s own mother), and has frequently concluded his other films with a bloodbath. In regards to Jackson’s approach on The Hobbit, one group is even calling him, “Satan’s little helper.” Regardless of your personal viewpoint, we can ascertain by his likes, dislikes, and lifestyle that he honestly needs prayer. But, we are ultimately accountable to God for ourselves. Therefore, we must not partake in the dark types of entertainment in which the world engages so readily in.

The Plot’s Message

Honestly, it is difficult for me to understand the entire plot of The Hobbit since I refuse to read the book or watch the movie. But, I have seen enough “red flags” which have brought me to this decision. It would be easy for a critic to pick apart someone like me who has never seen the movie, yet, am warning others to abstain from it. However, liken it to a thief or even a prostitute – I do not have to engage in the nefarious acts in order to: A.) Warn others to stay away from such evil. B.) See signs/indications which would make me, as a Christian, discern that the activity is wrong.

But, suffice it to say that The Hobbit is a story to reclaim a lost kingdom from a dragon. Along the journey, we find the movie includes magic, a dragon, wizard, trolls, goblins, and sorcerers – all of which represent evil. Oh, and a company of thirteen dwarves. Incidentally, thirteen is the Biblical number representing rebellion.

In regards to magic, scripture says, “Outside are the dogs, those who practice MAGIC arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). Furthermore, Ezekiel 13:20 says, “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your MAGIC charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.” Additionally, Galatians 5:19-21 states: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, SORCERY, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.” Finally, a very interesting scripture found in Acts 19:19 says this: “And a number of those who had practiced MAGIC arts brought their BOOKS together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

In The Hobbit, there are many lengthy battle scenes including dismemberment, decapitation, repeated stabbings, and killings. And this is being called a “fantasy film”?! Normally, people who fantasize about such things would be considered mentally-unstable or even demon-possessed. Yet, some people who attend a Christian church every Sunday find no problem with endorsing this type of entertainment?! Church of Jesus, don’t be so easily deceived! It is a true saying that you cannot be the Bride of Christ and the girlfriend of the world at the same time! In this generation, we need some people with some boldness and backbone.

What Do You Want On Your Tombstone?

Even though J.R.R. Tolkien died in the 1970’s, his work lives on and is impacting a new generation. The epitaph on the Tolkien’s tombstone is quite interesting. On their tombstone it reads his wife’s name first: “Edith Mary Tolkien.” Underneath her name it says, “Luthien”. Under his name on their tombstone, it says: “Beren”.

The names Luthien and Beren are the names J.R.R. Tolkien gave to characters of his. Beren is a mortal man who was exiled from his kin. Luthien’s character is said to have had a Maia for her mother. A Maia was one who existed before creation and time itself (mockery of God, in attempting to be as a god). Luthien is also said to be half elf (evil) and half divine (good). This introduces the idea of the Yin and the Yang which is also evil (Taoism). Luthien is viewed as a god of sorts with healing powers and magical abilities. In this character’s life, she becomes mortal for Beren instead of remaining immortal (mockery of God). It is said after she died that she had an option to go to a place where the spirits of the dead Elves await re-embodiment (this teaches re-incarnation). In the end, she chose for her and Beren to be re-incarnated as mortals.

The bottom line is this: We must be careful what we allow ourselves to watch and/or partake in. Fiction or not, the inspiration for a story line had to come from somewhere. Is the author’s imagination dark? Does the plot include evil characters? Are there “red flags” that go up when you view certain scenes? This is a very deceptive age we live in. There is a narrow road that we must walk if we wish to be children of God. Scripture says that there will only be a few which are willing to walk the narrow road that leads to life… are you one of the few?

Video Clip:

On a side note, one final thing I noticed was a scene in one of Tolkien’s movies where a character is smoking pipe weed; as he puffs, the smoke spells out “666” which is the number for the anti-Christ.

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It’s Christmas afternoon, 2012. Luke, chapter two, has been read as a way to remember Jesus’ birth. All of the gifts have been opened under the tree. Christmas lunch has already been enjoyed. Now what? Well, many people will load up and go to the movies. And of all movies opening on a day we commemorate Jesus’ birth is – Django Unchained.

The movie, rated R, is packed with racism, violence, murder, vengeance, and blood. In the movie poster, the three lead actors are pictured in front of a blood-splattered backdrop, two of which are holding guns. The lead actor in the movie is Jamie Foxx. In the movie trailer, one of his lines is, “You kill white folks and they pay you for it? What’s not to like?” I feel that this movie has a serious potential to stir up racial hatred, inspire more murderers, and leave a negative impact on many. Jamie Foxx needs salvation; but as it is, he is not a positive role model. Earlier this year at the BET Soul Train Awards, Foxx said to the audience, “…It’s like church in here. First of all, give an honor to God and our Lord and Savior Barack Obama.”

I fully expect non-Christian people to pay money and watch this movie. Sadly, we will also see many who call themselves “Christians” pay money and watch this movie right alongside sinners. If this type of movie appeals to you and you are a Christian – I sorrowfully must ask… have you truly been born again? Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church once said, “A movie is a sermon with pictures.” What are you filling your mind with? Why are you filling your mind with racism, violence, murder, and blood. The very ones who deeply mourned the innocent children and adults being killed at the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut earlier this month will pay money to watch murder and blood on the big screen?! I don’t understand – I mean, I truly don’t understand.

It isn’t just the movie Django Unchained, but most movies produced in this day and age are full of evil – pure evil. Yet, Christians sit idly by and purchase tickets for such things. Many argue, “Well, it’s JUST a movie and it won’t affect me. I won’t be deceived.” My friend, if you are watching and subjecting yourself to such evil, you are thoroughly deceived already. No one ever falls purposely, neither is anyone deceived purposely. That is what deception is – a sly lie that is fed to you. Scripture says, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1st Peter 1:14-15). Would Jesus endorse your choice of entertainment?

If we are truly born again, we are to love the Lord and HATE evil (Psalm 97:10). We are also supposed to be different from the world. Romans 12:2 very plainly states:“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” God does not instruct us with unattainable ideals – He equips us and helps us to live a life pleasing to Him. “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this (the 2nd coming of Christ), make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him”(2nd Peter 3:14).

I pray that you will accept this warning, given in love. I pray that you will examine your life as I must examine my life, also. What drives people toward evil? How can people find peace with evil plots? What are people filling their minds with, and why? Take some time to consider these things. We must make sure we are right with God and living a holy life which is acceptable in His eyes. We cannot ignore the Word of God and expect no consequences. The disregard of God’s Word will lead many to certain failure. A wise pastor, Carter Conlon of Times Square Church, once said: “When foolishness becomes entertainment, watch out.” He said it will bring a dullness into your spirit; and it will.

Quotes:

“According to the reformers, most of the movies have unsound effects” ~Olin Miller

“The direction you’re looking in – that is what you are going to become; that’s where your heart is, that’s where your mind will be, that’s where your spirit will be, and that’s where your strength has gone- into these places of foolishness…” ~Pastor Carter Conlon

“If Satan have half, he will have all; if the Lord have but half, he will have none.” ~Matthew Henry

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ~ G. K. Chesterton

“Wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it, and right is right even if nobody is doing it.” ~St. Augustine

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“He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” ~Ecclesiastes 5:10

In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity of gambling. Whether people take a gamble at a casino, by betting on a horse race, or by scratching a lottery ticket – all forms of gambling have been marketed as attractive and harmless. In this blog entry, we will discuss this growing craze.

Writer, Jack Zavada says, “According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 2 million U.S. adults are pathological gamblers and another 4 to 6 million are problem gamblers. This addiction can destroy the stability of the family, lead to job loss, and cause a person to lose control of their life.” In the Bible, 2nd Peter 2:19 states: “…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.”

Scripture speaks in principles. Perhaps it will not say verbatim, “Thou shalt not gamble” or “Thou shalt not take illegal drugs”, however, we know from biblical principles what is right and what is wrong. If we have any confusion or hesitancy, then it is up to us to study it out. Principally, Proverbs 13:11 steers us in a right direction. It says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.” Scripture also guides us in 1st Timothy 6:10. It states: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Author J.M. Judy writes, “In all of its forms, gambling is loaded down with evil. In the first place it destroys the incentive to honest work. Let the average young man win a hundred dollars at the races, it will so turn his head against slow and honorable ways of getting money that he will watch for every opportunity to get it easily and abundantly. The young girl who risks fifty cents and gets back fifty dollars will no longer be of service as a quiet, contented worker. The spirit of speculation, the passion to get something for nothing, is calculated to destroy the incentive to honest toil and to honorable methods of gain. As one values his character, as he values his peace of mind, so should he zealously guard himself against over-fascinating games of chance. Gambling is dishonest. It seeks something for nothing. Man possesses no money, that he might risk giving it to some rogue to waste in sin. All the property one possesses, he possesses it by stewardship to be used wisely and honestly for good. The person who has acquired a passion for betting on races and games is on a fair way to professional gambling and to speculating on the markets. And rarely does one ever escape these, if once he gets a start in them.”

Wise Stewardship:

Gambling creates an appetite of greed for more; more money, more cars, more boats, more houses. It creates a sense of ungratefulness and discontentedness and frowns upon good work ethics. It tends to eventually make one covetous. It also goes against the Biblical teaching of being a wise steward. 2nd Peter 1:3 says that God has given His children everything we need for life and the faith/virtues we need to live a Godly life. Therefore, it is our responsibility to be wise stewards of what we are entrusted with – whether that be money, faith, or even our time. The Bible even urges us to “redeem the time” since the days are evil (see Ephesians 5:16). In other words, we are to make the best use of our time. Therefore, we can understand why there are no clocks or windows in most casinos – they do not want you to know how much time you are wasting. Going to a casino is certainly not making the best use of the time God has given us. At the end of life, no one will say, “I should have spent more time at the casino.” No… instead, they will say, “I wish I would have spent more time with my family” or “I wish I would have spent more time with God and getting to know Him.” Life is happening now. Memories are made now. Regrets and heartache can be avoided in the future by what we choose to do presently.

The Bible speaks of wise stewardship in Matthew 25:14-29 in the parable of the talents. In this context, the term “talent” does not refer to “ability” as we understand the term. Rather, a talent was a weight used as the basis of monetary exchange. A talent of gold or silver had great worth. Although this parable was given by Jesus as an answer to when He would return, the principle of good stewardship may also be applied by it.

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Helpful Scriptures:

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” ~1st Timothy 6:9

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money].” ~Matthew 6:24

“Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.”~Proverbs 10:23

“In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.” ~Proverbs 23:5

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” ~1 Timothy 6:17

Sources:

About.com

Biblos.com

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By request, this blog will deal with the topic of Halloween, its origins, and traditions. Furthermore, we will be discussing the age-old question… “Is it okay for Christians to celebrate Halloween?” For followers of Christ, can Halloween be celebrated harmlessly and “just for fun”? Or, should Christians abstain from associating with this dark holiday altogether?

The Bible is our roadmap for life; however, there comes times when we may not be able to specifically find an answer, verbatim, which we are looking for. In instances like this, we are to be guided by biblical principles. Scripture does not say, “Thou shalt not observe Halloween” – although it does speak against darkness and evil. But, what if someone observes Halloween in a way, they feel, is not uplifting evil? How can we teach, dogmatically, that such a thing is wrong? I believe that is where Philippians 2:12-13 comes into play. It says, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”Perhaps, it could also be that to whom God entrusts more, He requires more of.

While doing this study, I grappled between two schools of thought. The first being, that Christians can celebrate Halloween and pass out Gospel tracts with the candy to their trick-or-treaters; and/or dress in costumes that are “cute” or “fun” and not evil. The second school of thought is that we must please God above ourselves and steer clear of anything that could even be perceived as evil. My personal stance of NOT celebrating Halloween was reconfirmed during my studies. Nonetheless, I must remain unbiased, as to refrain from pushing my opinion upon others. But, there also comes a time when I must share more than my mere human opinion. I must share what I’ve studied and what scripture says. I must share what I feel would lead others in the best direction and which would be honorable to our Lord.

Before embarking upon writing on this particular topic, I asked other Christians for their opinions in regards to Halloween. The results are as follows:

*20% of Christians said they saw no problem with celebrating Halloween for the kid’s sake or as a fun tradition; as in handing out candy, dressing up, going door-to-door to Trick-or-Treat, etc.

*30% of Christians said they were altogether against celebrating Halloween in any shape, form, or fashion.

*50% of Christians said they were against the evil costumes and the origins of Halloween, but thought as long as the costumes were decent and if it was held in a controlled environment (such as a church setting) that it was okay to celebrate Halloween; perhaps renaming it “Fall Festival” or another term.

The Origins of Halloween

Many of us dressed up for Halloween and went Trick-or-Treating when we were kids. I’ve heard many say, “I dressed up for Halloween when I was little and it never made me demon-possessed.” While that may be a true statement for most, it may not be for others. Furthermore, did we have the knowledge of Halloween’s origins when we were little? Perhaps, our knowledge has increased. James 4:17 says,“Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” Let us firstly establish the origins of Halloween and later determine if it would be good or bad for us to celebrate it. I will present you with the information and let you decide for yourself.

The most ancient accounts of Halloween were found among the Druids (Celtic Priests) in the British Isles as far back as the Third Century BC. November 1st was considered their New Year celebration but the celebrations began on October 31st. The sun god (Lugh) was given thanks for the harvest, and there was a ritualistic mourning of the coming shorter days of the winter months. It was also one of the four times in the year that bonfires were lit on the hills in honor of Bel, the Biblical [evil] Baal. The Celts believed that on October 31st Samhain (their Lord of the Dead) gathered up all the souls of those who had died in the past year, who had since been confined in animal bodies. In order to appease him, and release the departed souls that they might enter Druid heaven, horses and humans were sacrificed by burning them in wicker cages. (In later European customs, black cats replaced the horses and humans.) Then, in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. In the Roman Catholic church, Catholics are called to remember and pray for the souls of deceased family and friends, who are in Purgatory, in order that they may be saved. The belief in Purgatory is not scriptural nor is it acceptable to worship any other gods except the one true God of the Bible. Nonetheless, the aforementioned paragraph teaches us how Halloween originated.

“Hallow” is a term translated, “Holy” – much like we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name” (see Luke 11:2). But on All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), what or whom is being regarded as holy? The dark, occultic world marks Halloween as one of their highest “holy days”, but their idea of “holy” is not what God would consider holy. In contrast, scripture mentions holy days (holidays); however, the context of scriptural holy days were Jewish feasts, Sabbaths, and the like. In regards to scriptural holy days, Colossians 2:16 says, “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.” You see, Hebrews 8:10 says that God’s laws are written on the hearts of His people; therefore, we will want to do right in order to please Him – instead of keeping a list of rules merely out of duty. One commentary, Barnes Notes on the Bible, puts it like this: “The sense is, that no one had a right to impose their [Jewish] observance on Christians, or to condemn them if they did not keep them. They had been delivered from that obligation by the death of Christ.” This same principle could loosely apply to Halloween; that the Christian should certainly not be condemned or questioned if he or she chooses to abstain from celebrating it. Their motive for choosing to abstain is their way of pleasing to the Lord.

Halloween Traditions

Pastor, husband, and author, Kim Harrington, says this: “Many of the customs surrounding Halloween today are not as innocent as they seem to be, but can be directly linked to its dark past. The roasting of nuts and bobbing for apples are old divination and fortune-telling practices. Even our modern practice of giving treats and candy to children dressed as ghosts and witches is a kind of peace offering — lest they should vandalize our property and play tricks on us. It can also be traced back to the Lord of the Dead, and the sacrifices offered to appease him and his malevolent spirits. Dogs and cats that turn up missing on Halloween may very well have been sacrificed to Satan or some other pagan deity. In many of these meetings the devil is worshipped, Christ is mocked, and God is declared to be dead. No doubt because of these ceremonies and the resultant increase of demonic activity, there is a sharp rise in the crime statistics at this time of year. The Bible condemns all such activities as abominations — one of the strongest words in the vocabulary of God. He is not dead, and He will not be mocked.”

Harrington goes on to say, “Of course, Christians who observe this holiday are not truly taking it seriously. We may be imitating the old rites and rituals, but it’s all done in good humor and means absolutely nothing. At any rate, the true Christian knows that there is only one God — we certainly won’t be burning any bonfires to Baal or Samhain. But do the demons know that? The Apostle Paul seems to be addressing just such a situation in First Corinthians. The believers at Corinth didn’t worship idols, but they did have an association with the idolatrous practices of the day — they bought meat that had been ceremoniously offered to the old gods of wood and stone. Paul told them, ‘What say I then? That the idol or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils’(1st Corinthians 10:19-21). You see, they knew that idols were nothing — and they certainly had no intention of engaging in idolatry themselves –so they felt they could, with a clean conscience, partake of that food. But some things are so spiritually defiling that even an innocent association with them can contaminate you, attract demons, and seriously compromise your Christianity.” Harrington asks a valid question: What does God think about us making a game out of that which has sent untold thousands to Christ-less graves?

On the topic of Halloween, author, David Emery, states: “Obvious similarities suggest at least a notional link between the present-day Halloween custom of wearing costumes and going trick-or-treating and the Medieval practices of ‘mumming’ and ‘going a-souling’. Mumming took the form of wearing costumes, chanting, singing, play-acting, and general mischief making, while souling entailed going door to door and offering prayers for the dead in exchange for treats, particularly soul cakes.”

In regards to the jack-o-lantern, Emery goes on to say, “According to legend, the jack-o’-lantern took its name from a reprobate Irishman known as Stingy Jack who tricked the Devil into promising he wouldn’t have to go to hell for his sins. When Jack died he found out he had been barred from heaven, so he journeyed to the gates of hell to demand his due. The Devil doomed Jack to wander the earth for all eternity with only an ember of hellfire of to light his way. Thenceforth he was known as Jack O’Lantern. It wasn’t until Irish immigrants brought the custom of carving jack-o’-lanterns to North America that the more commonly available pumpkin came to be used for that purpose, and not until the mid-to-late 19th century that pumpkin carving became a Halloween staple across the United States.” Regardless of whether this tradition is real or folkloric, it is safe to say that its origins are dark.

Ghosts, zombies, aliens, evil spirits, paranormal activity, and the like are nothing more than demons masquerading, in order to cause fear. Most people think of a “ghost” as a dead, transparent body floating or walking around, haunting a house. However, the “ghost” is actually a demon or demons. When we think of Halloween, we automatically think of ghosts and zombies. However, if we truly saw them as demons/demonic forces, would we be so apt to celebrate this holiday which has this association? Additionally, Halloween is celebrated at night when it is dark outside. John 3:19 says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Also, Isaiah 29:15 says, “How horrible it will be for those who try to hide their plans from the Lord. Their deeds are done in the dark, and they say, ‘No one can see us’ and ‘No one can recognize us.’”

Straight from an Ex-Witch’s Mouth

The following excerpt is by William J. Schnoebelen; a former witch high priest, now saved by Jesus:

“An old proverb says, ‘When you sup with the devil, use a long spoon.’ Presumably, NO genuine Christian would want to sup with the devil at all and yet many may be doing so in ignorance. As a former witch high priest, now saved by Jesus, I was astonished by how many Christians let their kids celebrate Halloween. Some churches even sponsor haunted houses and similar events on what is the Number One satanic ‘helliday’ of the year. Halloween is an occasion when the ancient gods (actually demons) are worshiped with human sacrifice.

If you are a Christian parent, God has given you a precious responsibility in your children. Remember, their ability to resist spiritual wickedness is much less than yours. We are commanded not to become involved with the unfruitful works of darkness (see Ephesians 5:11). Both from my experience as a witch, and since getting saved, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have seen far too many examples of how breaking this command works out in lives. Remember, while we have God’s promise of protection for ourselves and our children, that promise may not hold if we allow our children to celebrate this dark holiday. Case after case has come to us of children in rebellion. In many of these families, the problem can be traced back to the children being exposed to Halloween at a young age. It is hard enough to raise children these days in a Godly way without exposing them to Satan’s realm.”

Halloween Alternatives?

An article originally published in the Colorado Christian News says this: “We need to teach our children that the fight isn’t against occultists, non-Christians, Christians who feel differently than we about Halloween, or institutions that promote Halloween; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places [as stated in Ephesians 6:12]. The ‘Harvest Party’ is usually referred to as the Christian alternative to traditional Halloween. Alternative, however, implies substitute. It assumes our children need something to take the place of Halloween, since they won’t be participating in the secular and pagan celebrations. It suggests our kids are missing out on something.”

Additionally, the aforementioned pastor, Kim Harrington, had this to say about Halloween alternatives: “Early in my ministry as a pastor, we used to have a Halloween party for the children instead of sending them out on the streets. They would dress up as Biblical characters instead of boogie-men; there would be plenty of candy, and they at least wouldn’t feel as though they were missing out on the fun their little neighbors were having. We reasoned that we were now observing Halloween ‘as unto the Lord’ — we were taking some kind of stand, and yet pleasing the children. Actually, we were committing an awful compromise — making holy an unholy day so that no one, Christian or pagan, would be offended. In addition, our children were dressing up as Queen Esther, Solomon, and other departed saints — we were beginning to have our own little All Saints’ Day! It sobered us to see how easily history could repeat itself, even on so small a scale.”

Harrington continues, “We will have no more Halloween parties, or praise bonfires, or any other special activities on this holiday, unless it be a prayer-meeting to engage the forces of darkness in battle. Our children don’t feel cheated when their parents tell them it’s the devil’s holiday and we Christians just don’t observe it. We don’t let them lie, cheat and steal, either; there are certain television shows they don’t watch; and we will encourage them to avoid drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity when they’re a little older — all without feeling cheated. A parent doesn’t have to feel guilty about keeping a child out of Halloween.”

He concludes, “Christmas and Easter have been defiled by pagan traditions down though the years, too, but the true Christian can still worship God with a pure spirit on these occasions. Halloween, however, is without any redeeming quality at all. It is, and always has been, a day associated with dark superstitions and all that is evil and ungodly. In the last few decades, as our land has purposefully distanced itself from the God of Christianity to embrace a more multi-cultural, politically-correct type of spirituality, Halloween has become the second largest holiday of the calendar year.”

Someone once asked, “Would your wife allow you to celebrate one of your ex-girlfriend’s birthdays?” Of course not – because now, you are no longer committed to the ex-girlfriend but to your wife. The same applies to God and our past life of indulging in what we wanted rather than God’s desires. Who is the most important in our lives now? Irrespective of what we did in the past, who are we most concerned about pleasing at this point in our lives? God or ourselves? God gives us the freedom of choice, but He desires people to serve him faithfully, out of love, and not out of obligation. We can’t have it both ways; we must be hot or cold. Revelation 3:16 says, “So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”Remember the old saying: “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”

A dearly departed Revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill, once said: “If you’re going to get mature in God, all the dwarfs around you will criticize and sneer at you and say, ‘You’re trying to be holier than the rest of us, eh?’ [But], you’ll discover this – the men who have been most heroic for God have been the men with the greatest devotional life.” Ravenhill went on to say, “We are too earth bound. We see as other men see. We think as other men think… we’re supposed to be a different breed of people.”

The question gets asked so often; if Christians can celebrate Halloween or not. However, if there is an inkling of a doubt that it could be wrong, why chance it? This is a holy God we are dealing with and we should take our decisions seriously. In other words, it is as if we are asking how close we can get to the edge of a mountain without falling off. For the one who desires to please God, there is no temptation to push the envelope. 1st Peter 1:15 says, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”

Scriptures

Galatians 5:16-21:“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law [referencing Mosiac Law]. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

1st Thessalonians 5:21-22: “Test all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

3rd John 1:11: “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

2nd Corinthians 6:14-17: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial [Satan]? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel [unbeliever]? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

1st Peter 2:11: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims; abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

John 15:18-19: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”

1st John 1:5: “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”